The schooner ALBATROSS encountered a series of unfortunate events during its lifetime. Built in 1867 by Hiram Conkrite in Oakville, Ontario, the vessel was a two-masted wooden schooner measuring 92 feet in length, 20.9 feet in beam, and 8.9 feet in depth. It had a gross tonnage of 142.5 tons.
On November 7, 1880, while en route from Port Hope, Ontario, to Oswego, the ALBATROSS faced severe weather conditions that damaged its rigging and rudder. As a result, the vessel ran aground near Wellington, Ontario, on the coast of Lake Ontario. The storm caused the ship to be wrecked, and it was reported that there was no loss of life associated with the incident.
During the time of the accident, the ALBATROSS was carrying a cargo of shingles and lumber. The vessel’s rigging was encased in approximately 150 tons of ice, making rescue and salvage efforts challenging. Several unsuccessful attempts were made to free the ALBATROSS from its stranded position. Eventually, the decision was made to abandon the vessel due to unfavorable weather conditions.
The ALBATROSS was officially registered under the Canadian flag, and its owners included Duncan Chisholm, William Cook, and William Robertson, all from Oakville. The last known owner of the vessel at the time of the accident was Thomas Hyden from Port Hope.
Following the wreck, the ALBATROSS was stripped and left abandoned on the shore near Wellington. The wrecked vessel’s final location was identified as Salmon Point in Prince Edward County, Ontario.
Unfortunately, the available sources do not provide further information regarding the fate of the Albatross after its abandonment or any subsequent attempts at salvage or removal.
